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Police: School district janitor suspected of sexually assaulting a child

By Pierrette J. Shields Longmont Times-Call

Posted:
11/26/2011 07:45:19 PM MST

Updated:
11/26/2011 07:46:16 PM MST

LONGMONT -- Police arrested a 24-year-old school janitor on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl early Saturday morning after a sheriff's deputy found him in a car with the girl at Lagerman Reservoir.

Cmdr. Jeff Satur said it appears Travis Bowden met the girl in his neighborhood, not through the schools. He said Bowden is a substitute janitor and is called in to work as needed at various schools. Satur said investigators will work with St. Vrain Valley School District officials to determine whether Bowden may have had inappropriate contact with any other students.

According to reports, a Boulder County deputy saw a car parked at the reservoir at about 11:30 p.m. on Friday and found Bowden and the girl inside. The girl told the deputy that she had sex with Bowden at his home on the 1700 block of Cambridge Drive on Thanksgiving morning.

Bowden told a Longmont detective early Saturday morning that he met the girl in his neighborhood about a year ago and they struck up a friendship, police reported. He described the relationship as being a "big brother" to her. He initially denied any sexual contact, but then told the detective that on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, she had visited his house and came onto him. He described a sexual encounter that fell short of intercourse, police reported.

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Satur said investigators are not releasing Bowden's mug shot because it may be used in photo lineups as police continue the investigation. He was arrested on suspicion of one count of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

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